There is an arts and crafts event for children on Saturday 18th September 2021 on Nightingale Green with bird related craft activities for children. Before this there will be a Creatures of the Night moth & bat walk event run by Francis Castro, Senior Nature Conservation Ranger from Vision RCL & Tim Harris from the WREN group. There is also an online talk about the mystery and magic of nightingales and other song birds, the reasons for their decline and what we can do about it on 7th September. The arts teacher is Brenda Coyle Freelance Artist/Educator Mbbcraft https://www.instagram.com/brendacoylearty/ Volunteers will provide other activities on the day. Some of the funding will also be used for the installation an insect hotel, planting, a wildlife quiz, and leaflets.

What we'll deliver:

• Insect hotel project materials
• Leaflets including a children’s habitat quiz for Nightingale Green.
• Printed bird posters for windows
• An online talk

Why it's a great idea:

The Festival of Nightingales, which already had local support, was to be an outlet & platform for creativity (visual and performing arts), through performances on the day & workshops in preparation for the day. It was to bring the local community together for a street party which would have been be part of the festival. People would have had an opportunity to engage with issues of sustainability and protection of wildlife in a creative and enjoyable way. There is disappointment that this Festival, which was in the planning stage, cannot happen this year but some creative and educational projects will happen this year anyway .

Steps to get it done:

As the full event cannot now happen in 2021, I am seeking funding to keep the project alive with the possibility of it happening in 2022 with this mini-festival, organised safely in a socially distanced way.